Pocket cigarette lighter



Dec. 16, 1952 w, cm

POCKET CIGARETTE LIGHTER Filed Dec. 16, 1950 2 w/ M w a m a F A /W 4Z.\, 1 w A i 4 I VINVENTOR. WILLIAM M GILL Patented Dec. 16, 1952 UNITEDSTATES Application December 16, 1950, Serial No. 201,195

Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pocketcigarette and cigar lighters, particularly the type utilizing a wicksatu-- rated with an inflammable fluid ald spark proin means forigniting the wic l n l mown lighters a small rod of flint is heldagainst a sparking wheel by a spring. This arrangement has manydisadvantages, for example, only extremely short rods of flint can beutilized due to the limit of compressibility of the spring, thusoccasioning frequent replacements for the flint, during whichreplacement operations the said spring may easily become lost.

One object of the invention is the rov slon of a lighter in which theflint is fed posltively against the sparking wheels, the means for suchfeed being so arranged as to allow extremely long bars or rods of flintbeing utilized.

Another object of the invention is to construct the lighter in suchmanner that actuation of the sparking wheel feeds the flint into contacttherewith.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a cover forthe wick which is automatically thrown open on actuation of saidsparking wheel.

A further object of the invention is generally to improve lighters ofthe type involved.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the lighter of the invention with aportion broken away to reveal the interior construction.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the lighter with the wick cover inopen position.

Fig. 3 is a view from beneath of the removable sparking wheel unit ofthe lighter, as removed from the main structure of the latter.

F 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the flint feedingmeans.

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view of the wick coverlatching and releasing means.

Referring now to the drawings wherein a pre- "ferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated,

the reference numeral It) indicates a generally rectangular, roundedcorner wall of metal or any other suitable material. A base plate I Ihas a perimetral flange [2 which encompasses and is secured to the lowerend of wall IE]. A short distance above base plate II a partition I3 issecured about its margin to the wall l0 which also supports near itsupper end a second partition it. A vertical partition l5 extends betweenthe partitions i3 and It and divides the space inten'or of wall iii intotwo compartments of which that indicated by the numeral It is partiallyfilled with an absorbent material ll such as cotton. Coiled about in thecotton I! which is saturated with any suitable inflammable fluid is awick it that extends through an opening 2|] in the partition Id.Preferably a perforated block if is secured to the underside ofpartition Iii about the opening 29 further to guide the wick it. asusual, an opening for the admission of fluid is provided in the base ofcompartment 6%, said opening being provided with a suitable screw plug22.

AS indicated above, the wall H3 extends above the partition 14, a walledspace 23 thus being provided above the said partition. The space 23 iscovered and substantially sealed by a pair of cap member shells 24 and25, the former forming a wick cover and the latter the framing of aremovable sparking wheel unit. Each cap member comprises a shell havingone wall-less end, the said wall-less ends of the two members beinglocated in abutting relationship with one another. At the end of space23 above the compartment is the wall it is provided with a cutout andwith ears 26 which cooperate with like ears on the end wall of capmember 24 in supporting between them a spring hinge 2'! which tends toopen the cap member from the closed position of Fig. 1. Spring hinges ofthis type are extremely familiar and it is deemed unnecessary todescribe the same further. The cap member 25 is provided in either sidewall with a pair of dimples which cooperate in familiar fashion withextrusions projected outward from wall It to maintain the cap member inplace.

Projecting through and journalled in the top wall of cap member 25 isthe reduced end of a stub shaft 3% which, above the said wall, isthreaded to receive a knurled knob 3!. The thick portion of sha as by aforce fit a sparking disc 32 having suit able serrations 33 in TENTOFFICE ft 30 has secured thereon the underface thereof,. and

3 a disc 34 having an upturned peripheral flange 35 provided with starteeth 36. Shaft 3a is provided with a square bore 39 open at the underedge of the shaft for a purpose to be described hereinafter.

Engaging the star teeth 36 is one arm of a bell crank 31 pivoted on aspindle 38 fixed at its ends in the side walls of cap member 25.Suitable collars 49 hold the bell crank against lateral movements. Theopen end of cap member 24 is provided with a centrally located dependingtongue M which is inclined toward the hinge 21 and is provided at itslower end with a right angled shelf 42. The shelf 42 is engaged by thefree arm of the bell crank 31 to latch member 24 in closed positionagainst the tension of hinge 21, when the other arm of the bell crank isengaged in an interdental space on the flange 35 of disc 34. The bellcrank". is maintained in latching position by a leaf spring 43 securedto the top Wall of cap member 25 and engaging the edge of the bellcrank. In obvious manner turning the knob 3i rotates the disc 34 andthrough the appropriate tooth 36 rocks the bell crank 3'! free of shelf32. This, of course, allows spring hinge 2'! to swing the cap member 24to open position. The cap member 24 is moved back to closed positionmanually, the shelf 42 camming the bell crank 3? out of its path. Spring43 of course reengages the bell crank with the upper face of the shelfto latch the cap member closed.

Vertically aligned with the shaft 36 is a bolt 44 having unthreadedportions journalled in the partitions l3 and M and having a flat head 45located between partition l3 and base plate II to prevent endwisemovements thereof. Above partition l4 bolt 44 is provided with a squareend 48 which engages in the square bore 39 of shaft 39. Rotation of knob3! will therefore rotate bolt 44. The unthreaded portion of bolt 44which extends through partition is is reduced somewhat and extends belowthe partition a short distance, as indicated at 1, for a reason toappear hereinafter.

' The threads of bolt 64 are extremely fine and are provided with a verysmall lead. Threaded onto the bolt 44 is a sleeve 48 from which an arm59 projects horizontally toward the juncture of partition l and Wall 1%nearer the observer in Fig. 1. At its end, arm 59 is formed into acircular block 5! adapted to a vertical tube 52 fixed in the partitionsl3 and 14. As shown, the tube has a vertical slit 53 in the wall thereofto accommodate the arm 5t. According to the invention a long bar or rod54 of flint is mounted in the tube 52 atop block 5! with the upper edgethereof engaging the serrations 33 on the under side of spark disc 32.

The construction is such that as the knob 31 is rotated a fractionalturn, and with it the sparking disc 34, the bolt 44 also rotates,raising the block M a slight amount to maintain the flint 54 in contactwith the serrations 33 as the latter scrapes off the top particles ofthe former. Before the flint 54 becomes exhausted, sleeve 58 rides ontothe reduced portion 41 or bolt 44 which prevents further upward movementthereof. A fresh flint then is inserted by removing cap 1! and member 25as described above. It is to be noted that the decentralized positioningof the flint 54 aids in directing sparks therefrom to the wick [8, thatis, the wick and flint are arranged on a line tangential to the circleof serrations 33 at the point at which said flint abuts said serrations.

The invention also contemplates the use of a replaceable compressed gascartridge in place of wick [8, said cartridge being housed in thecompartment l6 and projecting through a suitable opening in partition M.In this construction the wick cover 24 is replaced by the cap valve ofthe cartridge and the operating arm of bell crank 37 is forked tocontrol the operation of said valve. Such compressed gas cartridges andthe manner of operating the valves thereof are well known and it isdeemed desirable not to illustrate nor further describe the same.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to theprecise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to allchanges and modifications coming within the scope of the invention asdefined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a pocket lighter the combination of a tube having a vertical slitin the wall thereof, the tube being adapted to receive a long rod offlint, a vertical bolt situated adjacent the tube and so journalled asto be fixed longitudinally, a sparking wheel coaxial and rotatable withsaid bolt through the slit of the tube, a block on the end of the arm insaid tube beneath the flint rod and acting to raise said flint rod whenthe bolt is rotated, a disc coaxial and rotatable with said sparkingwheel and having upturned star teeth ,2 on the peripheral edge thereof,a wick, a wick cover, a spring hinge tending to swing said cover tubehaving a vertical slit in the wall thereof,

the tube being adapted to receive a long rod of flint, a vertical boltsituated adjacent the tube and so journalled as to be fixedlongitudinally, a sparking wheel coaxial and rotatable With said boltand having serrations on the under face thereof to engage the upper endof the flint rod, a knob to turn the sparking wheel a sleeve threaded onsaid bolt, an arm projecting from said sleeve through the slit of thetube, a block on the end of the arm in said tube beneath the flint rodand acting to raise said flint rod when the bolt is rotated, a disccoaxial and rotatable with said sparking wheel and having upturned starteeth on the peripheral edge thereof, a wick, a Wick cover comprising athree-walled shell, 2. spring hinge tending to swing said cover to openposition, a centrally located depending tongue at the wall-less end ofthe cover shell inclined toward the hinge, a shelf projecting at rightangles to the tongue, a bell crank having one arm engaging said shelf tolatch the cover shell in closed position, the other arm engaging saidstar teeth and the shell being unlatched by rotation of said disc.

3. In a pocket lighter the combination of a tube having a vertical slitin the wall thereof, the tube being adapted to receive a long rod offlint, a vertical bolt situated adjacent the tube and so journalled asto be fixed longitudinally, a sparking wheel coaxial and rotatable withsaid bolt and having serrations on the under face thereof to engage theupper end of the flint rod, a knob to turn the sparking wheel, a sleevethreaded on said bolt, an arm projecting from said sleeve through theslit of the tube, a block on the end of the arm in said tube beneath theflint rod and acting to raise said flint rod when the bolt is rotated, adisc coaxial and rotatable with said sparking wheel and having upturnedstar teeth on the peripheral edge thereof, a wick, a wick covercomprising a three-walled shell, a sprin hinge tending to swing saidcover to open position, a centrally located depending tongue at thewall-less end of the cover shell inclined toward the hinge, a shelfprojecting at right angles to the tongue, a bell crank having one armengaging said shelf to latch the cover shell in closed position, theother arm engaging said star teeth and the shell being unlatched byrotation of said disc, and an unthreaded reduced portion at the upperend of said bolt onto which said sleeve rides to prevent further upwardmovement thereof when the flint rod is nearly exhausted.

4. In a pocket lighter the combination of a tube having a vertical slitin the wall thereof, the tube being adapted to receive a long rod offlint, a vertical bolt situated adjacent the tube and so journalled asto be fixed longitudinally, a sparking wheel coaxial and rotatable withsaid bolt and having serrations on the under face thereof to engage theupper end of the flint rod, a knob to turn the sparking wheel, a sleevethreaded on said bolt, an arm projecting from said sleeve through theslit of the tube, a block on the end of the arm in said tube beneath theflint rod and acting to raise said flint rod when the bolt is rotated, adisc coaxial and rotatable with said sparking wheel and having upturnedstar teeth on the peripheral edge thereof, a wick, a wick covercomprising a three-walled shell, a spring hinge tending to swing saidcover to open position, a centrally located depending tongue at thewall-less end of the cover shell inclined toward the hinge, a shelfprojecting at right angles to the tongue, 9. bell crank having one armengaging said shelf to latch the cover shell in closed position, theother arm engaging said star teeth and the shell being unlatched byrotation of said disc, an unthreaded reduced portion at the upper end ofsaid bolt onto which said sleeve rides to prevent further upwardmovement thereof when the flint rod is nearly exhausted, a square end onsaid bolt above said reduced portion, a stub shaft on which said knob,said sparking wheel and said disc are secured, a square socket in thelower end of said shaft engaged by the said square end, and athree-walled shell-like a knob to turn the sparking wheel, a sleevethreaded on said bolt, an arm projecting from said sleeve through theslit of the tube, a block on the end of the arm in said tube beneath theflint rod and acting to raise said flint rod when the bolt is rotated, adisc coaxial and rotatable with said sparking wheel and having upturnedstar teeth on the peripheral edge thereof, a wick, a wick covercomprising a three-walled shell, a spring hinge tending to swing saidcover to open position, a centrally located depending tongue at theWall-less end of the cover shell inclined toward the hinge, a shelfprojecting at right angles to the tongue, a bell crank having one armengaging said shelf to latch the cover shell in closed position, theother arm engaging said star teeth and the shell being unlatched byrotation of said disc, an unthreaded reduced portion at the upper end ofsaid bolt onto which said sleeve rides to prevent further upwardmovement thereof when the flint rod is nearly exhausted, a square end onsaid bolt above said reduced portion, a stub shaft on which said knob,said sparking wheel and said disc are secured. a square socket in thelower end of said shaft engaged by the said square end, and athree-walled shell-like cover in which said shaft is journalled and saidbell crank is pivoted, the last said cover being held in placefrictionally.

WILLIAM MCGILL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,419,889 Florman Apr. 29, 19472,469,442 Rein et a1. May 10, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date251,476 Switzerland Oct. 31, 1947 261,451 Switzerland May 15, 1949431,057 France Aug. 31, 191i 609,672 Great Britain Oct. 5, 1948

